The National Council of Sports (NCS) has handed out certificates to three sports associations, bringing the total number of affiliated federations to 48.

Mr David Katende, the NCS assistant general secretary (technical), handed out the certificates to leaders of American Football, Climbing Sport and Kabaddi.

He implored them to work towards spread the three disciplines to places far and wide across Uganda.

“What you have received is not an end in itself but an admission of responsibility towards growing those sports to get more Ugandans involved,”

Katende said.

Adding that; “This certificate is just the beginning of the journey, It is not an individual certificate, it belongs to the whole association and use it well. Please make use of this mandate you have been granted.”

Ms. Shadia Nakamanya, the head of legal and compliance at NCS, took journalists present through the process that led to the certifications.

The symbolic handover brings an end to three-tier process that the three associations undertook in order to earn recognition from government.

“The climbing sport has been existing since 2016. Uganda is the few African countries where the sport is,” Richard Asiimwe, the inaugural president of the Climbing Sports Association said.

South Africa, Rwanda, Morocco, Algeria and Namibia are the other African countries with the sport.

The climbing sport takes two versions; indoor on the walls and outdoor in the stones.

Jacob Kato, the president of the Kabaddi Association, received his body’s certificate and promised to expand it.

Uganda American Football Association was represented by their president Steve George Okeng.

The sport is already played in some international schools like Galaxy International, Rainbow and Acorns with Gulu, Kyambog*o* and Lira universities on board too.